Women’s Month: SWEEP leverages entrepreneurship to empower women students

The Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) is the new kid on the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) student societies block, and their mandate is in a class of its own. SWEEP uses entrepreneurship to empower women students, especially those affected by sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). And while doing so, aims to build a pipeline of successful women entrepreneurs in the country.

What’s cool is that SWEEP is not unique to UCT. The initiative operates at South Africa’s 26 public universities, which means a large group of women students benefit from the programme. It is made possible through a collaboration between the British Council and the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Programme – an arm of the Department of Higher Education and Training that is dedicated to driving student and graduate entrepreneurship. At an institutional level, the initiative is supported by Careers Service.

“We are a community of people who genuinely wants to see everyone succeed.”

“SWEEP’s work is impactful and diverse. We create an inclusive, supportive safe space for women students at UCT and aim to breathe life into their entrepreneurial dreams. We are a community of people who genuinely wants to see everyone succeed,” said Unathi Sithole, SWEEP’s newest UCT member, and a second-year social science student.

A safe, nurturing space

Considering the country’s high levels of SGBV, Sithole, who’s also the founder and creator of Blackgirlmadeit – a graphic design business – said often victims of abuse feel disempowered to chase their dreams. SWEEP aims to change this mindset. It provides budding entrepreneurs with resources and guidance they need on how to start their entrepreneurial journeys, gives them a platform to connect with other likeminded women to share their ideas and aspirations, and allows members to participate in mentoring and coaching programmes and motivational talks facilitated by successful entrepreneurs.

SWEEP’s UCT chapter is still in its infancy stages and was formally set up earlier this year. Since then, she said, the team has been hard at work behind the scenes and already hosted a successful financial literacy programme and women in entrepreneurship event during the first semester. Several additional workshops are already in the works for the second half of the year.

“We are a community of women who can depend on each other. The idea is for students to sign up and meet people who can make a difference in their personal and professional journeys, to give them the lift they need. What we want is for our members to learn, grow and develop in ways they didn’t think possible. We can and will make this happen,” she said.

An entrepreneur by heart and soul

So, between running a successful business, which involves creating visual masterpieces for her clients, juggling a full-time academic programme and serving as SWEEP UCT’s social media marketer, Sithole has her hands full.

But it’s all in a day’s work. And as an entrepreneur by “heart and soul”, Sithole said being part of the SWEEP team and having an opportunity to empower other would-be entrepreneurs in the UCT community, especially those who may have lost or misplaced their sparkle due to life’s challenges, including incidences of abuse, has been enriching and exciting.

“As a young, black girl from Soweto, I chose entrepreneurship to empower myself. And in addition to that, I wanted to learn negotiation skills, financial literacy and how to sell. This journey has given me that and so much more,” she said. “I like to call entrepreneurship an engine that just doesn’t stop running because of the endless opportunities that come with it. We are here to help our members to see and experience that,” she said.

Empowering all women

While empowering women students through entrepreneurship is a fundamental part of their mandate, Sithole said SWEEP’s doors are not shut to students who need that push to give other dreams the wings to fly. This means that those who have ambitions other than entrepreneurship are welcome to join as well.

“At the end of the day, SWEEP is about women empowerment, especially during difficult circumstances. So, if you’re a women student and have goals that don’t involve entrepreneurship, and maybe you’re unsure of how to attain those goals because of certain bumps in the road, join us!” she said. “We want to see you grow and thrive.”